Exclusive: Rangers battle with Championship clubs to sign 12-goal striker from north-west club

Rangers are battling a host of English Championship clubs for Fleetwood Town striker Devante Cole, Football Insider sources understand.

Cole’s future is the subject of conjecture with the player in the final six months of his contract at Fleetwood and Rangers, Sheffield United, Birmingham, Ipswich, Reading and Wigan are eyeing landing the striker for a cut-price fee due to his contract situation.

Fleetwood are braced for interest this month in Cole, who is attracting interest from clubs higher up the football pyramid after netting 12 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions for Uwe Rosler’s League One side.

A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Scottish giants Rangers are weighing up a move for Cole as they look to bolster their attacking options having lost Kenny Miller to injury for a lengthy period.

Rangers are looking to strengthen their attacking options as they aim to close the gap on league leaders Celtic and they see Cole as someone who could be a long-term answer to their striking issues.

Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United remain interested in Cole having saw a deadline day move in the summer fall through for the 22-year-old, while Birmingham, Reading and Ipswich are all in the market for striking reinforcements this month and Cole is high on their list of targets.

League One leaders Wigan Athletic are also monitoring Cole as they look to maintain their bid for promotion back to the Championship.

Cole joined Fleetwood from Bradford City in January 2016 establishing himself as one of the best young strikers in the Football League and Fleetwood will reluctantly consider offers for the former Manchester City youngster this month rather than risk allowing him to run down his contract.